Yong Hye-in was recently nominated by President Lee Jae Myung for the position of Minister of Gender Equality and Family in South Korea. What should have been a moment of pride for the politician started sparking backlash, with many calling for her resignation. Now Hye-in has reaffirmed that she will remain a lawmaker despite being nominated for the gender ministry.
Yong Hye-in Doubles Down on Decision to Keep Assembly Seat Amid Resignation Calls
Lawmaker Yong Hye-in spoke to reporters in Seoul this evening. While speaking at a press conference held in the National Assembly Communication Building, Hye-in broke her silence on the impassioned calls for her resignation.
“Since my nomination, baseless suspicions have been reported as if they had substance, and no matter how much the party explains and refutes them, they are not even properly reported”, she started off. Hye-in then expressed her disappointment at the response her nomination garnered saying, “I have been preparing for the confirmation hearing to ensure no suspicions remain, but even the hearing schedule has not been set.”
She added, “While the People Power Party’s stubbornness is the root cause, I feel regretful that even some within the Democratic Party of Korea are being swept up in groundless accusations and malicious agitation.” Nominee Yong then slammed critics for spreading “only groundless accusations and malicious agitation” .
She also reaffirmed her decision to stay on as a lawmaker in the National Assembly. “I will fulfill my role both in the government and the National Assembly”, she said brazenly.
Who is Yong Hye-in?
Born on April 12, 1990 in the city of Bucheon, Yong Hye-in joined South Korea’s National Assembly in 2020. She is linked to the Basic Income Party, which she established, and has been a leading voice in the country for universal basic income.
She was one of the main voices behind the Stay Where You Are silent march campaign, that garnered widespread attention in South Korea.
Yong Hye-in: Political Career
Prior to her involvement in national politics, Yong was active in civil society advocacy. She gained recognition through her involvement in campaigns tied to the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.
Once she entered parliament, she developed a reputation for policies centered on social welfare, equality, and assistance for working families. Her political platform has featured proposals related to basic income, carbon taxation, land taxation, and the energy transition.
Yong Hye-in: Achievements
Yong Hye-in’s political career includes a lot of achievements, with some notable ones being:
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Establishing the Basic Income Party in 2020 and became its inaugural standing representative .
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Becoming a lawmaker in the National Assembly in 2020 and winning a second term in the 2024 general election.
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Pushing for family-friendly parliamentary reform after becoming a mother in 2021.
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Successfully becoming the first advocate of the Living Partnership Act of 2023.
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Serving on the special committee investigating the 2022 Itaewon crowd disaster.
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Co-chairing Lee Jae Myung’s central election campaign committee.
Yong Hye-in Nomination Row: Why is the Gender Ministry Nominee Facing Resignation Calls?
The current controversy is tied to Yong Hye-in’s appointment as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, even though she continues to serve as a sitting member of the National Assembly.
Critics have raised the question of whether she ought to relinquish her parliamentary seat before assuming a ministerial position in the national government. The matter has prompted demands for her to resign from the Assembly, though Yong has stood firmly by her choice to stay on as a lawmaker.
South Korean Government’s Response
Despite the backlash, the government led by President Lee Jae Myung has not yet commented on the scandal yet. And given Nominee Yong’s ties to President Myung, her nomination will likely remain unchanged.
